Social media is here to stay and the doctors who learn to harness its power can benefit greatly. There are three major platforms – Twitter, Facebook and Linked In. Each has its own purpose and in time you can expand into all three, but for starters, try Linked In.
Linked In is a great platform to share professional information and network with others. To start, sign up for a free account at www.linkedincom. Set up a basic profile that includes information about your education, specialty, current and previous work experience. You can add or modify this information anytime.
- Introduce yourself to colleagues and potential patients with educational posts that establish your expertise and credibility. Use visuals as often as possible.
- Use the search feature to look for individuals in a similar role, experts in fields that you want to learn about, and don’t forget your current circle of colleagues.
- Post frequently but keep the content on a professional level.
- Ask questions. Online you can engage in conversations, share tips and find a group of professionals who can share insights.
- Join Linked In groups that match your expertise. In these groups you can discuss, post and share content on a variety of subjects. All of the professional eyecare associations have LinkedIn pages as well as medical journals, device manufacturers and pharma companies. They are easy to find in the search box at the top of the page.